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The farmer stands in front of his barren field, dotted with stunted cumin plants. Before the locust invasion this past January, the land was green with cumin, mustard, and chickpea plants. Twenty minutes were enough for the insects—a type of grasshopper—to destroy nearly all of it. Only the small bushes under a large tree were spared because locusts won’t eat in the shade, says Ummed Singh, who lives with his wife and four children in a small village in the arid state of Rajasthan, India, about an hour’s drive from Jaisalmer, the last outpost before the high security border with Pakistan....

Last year, a team of climate scientists and archeologists analyzed sediment from the bottom of Horseshoe Lake in western Illinois, where the Cahokia lived. By comparing the number of fecal molecules present in each layer of sediment to environmental indicators that signify drought and floods, the team was able to better understand how ancient changes in climate––such as periods of drought and floods–– caused people to either move to higher ground in the area, or leave Cahokia all together....

Now, researchers are working to formalize how anthropologists consult with descendant communities. In January, the American Journal of Biological Anthropology (AJBA) announced that any submissions to the journal would need to comply with ethical requirements for human remains used in the research. The decision is part of an ongoing conversation within the field of bioanthropology—a discipline that uses biological tools like genetics to study human life throughout history—to redefine its responsibilities to both its subjects and their descendants....

iPad Air nips at the 11-inch iPad Pro’s heels The iPad Air with an M1 chip takes a step closer toward competing with Apple’s 11-inch iPad Pro. The new tablet now offers comparable performance, support for 5G connectivity, USB-C with up to 10Gbps data transfer speeds, and an improved 12MP front-facing camera that can track subjects as they move around a space. Apple claims the M1 processor’s 8-core GPU brings 2x faster graphics performance to the new iPad Air compared to the 2020 model....

“Kids tend to get a lot of infections because their immune system is naive in comparison to an adult who might have encountered some of these viruses before,” says Kishana Taylor, a post-doctoral researcher at Rutgers University–Newark who co-founded the Black Microbiologists Association. That’s why it’s so important for little ones to get vaccinated: Even when they haven’t been exposed to a virus, they’re still protected. Getting vaccinated can also stop a child from getting sick, and keep them from infecting classmates, school staff, and their families....

The era around 250-252 million years ago is marked by a huge and rapid die-off of most of the ocean’s life, and scientists have several hypotheses explaining why. Some have argued it was a major meteorite impact, like the one that killed the dinosaurs; others posit that gigantic volcano eruptions were to blame; others argue for mass ocean poisoning; and still others blame huge methane releases. Researchers at MIT say it may be a combination of all these things, hinging on the ability of bacteria to break down nickel and produce methane....

In the 18th and 19th centuries, several elements were being discovered almost every decade. This profusion of new elements with an ever-widening range of properties soon began to provoke questions. Precisely how many elements were there? Had most of them already been discovered? Or would there perhaps turn out to be innumerable elements? This soon led to more profound speculations. Somehow, amongst all these elements, there must be some kind of fundamental order....

Bedazzling Each mirror starts with 10,000 slabs of borosilicate glass—18 tons in all. The stuff is akin to the Pyrex that holds your leftovers. The team cleans and inspects every fist-size block for flaws before inserting each one into a honeycomb-­patterned mold. Placing the pieces to ensure they melt into shape evenly takes a day. The finished motif creates a kaleidoscope of color as the lab’s light reflects off it....

There are more than a few options out there, so we’ve created this compact packet for you to peruse. Here’s what to consider when looking for a new printing pal. We’ll also point you towards our recommendations to get you started on your search. Best overall: Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850Best laser printer: HP Color Laserjet Pro M479fdwBest inkjet printer: Canon PIXMA TS9520Best with fax: Brother MFC-J5330DWBest wireless: HP OfficeJet Pro 9025Best portable: HP OfficeJet 250Best budget: Canon PIXMA TR4520...

You’ll also need to consider the material, as this will affect what you can use the tray for, the price point and how much it weighs. Here’s what to consider when choosing a baking tray for your home. Material: Most trays are stainless steel with some sort of non-stick coating. These are durable and great for everyday use, but they can be very heavy. A great alternative is aluminium—make sure you get one that’s anodized to prevent food from sticking and protect it from acidic foods....

Many different products technically fall under the board game category, but for the sake of this guide, we’ll consider any tabletop game for two or more people that includes a dedicated playing surface or sets of playing cards. Since this is such a huge category with multiple variants to choose from, we’ll break down a few things to consider when you’re building your board game collection. All things considered, the board games for any household will offer years of enjoyment for your family, friends, and loved ones....

Best crunchy cat treats: Wellness Kittles Grain-Free Salmon & Cranberries RecipeBest lickable cat treats: INABA Churu Lickable Purée Natural Cat TreatsBest catnip: KONG – Naturals Premium CatnipBest pill pockets for cats: Feline Greenies Pill Pockets Cat TreatsBest budget cat treats: Temptations Classic Crunchy and Soft Cat Treats What to consider when searching for the best cat treats Cat accessories of all kinds have flooded the market as pets have increasingly become treasured family members....

Best overall: Canon PIXMA TS8320 All-In-One Wireless Color PrinterBest commercial: Brother MFC-L8900CDW Color Laser All-in-One PrinterBest for speed: Brother Monochrome Laser PrinterBest for small office: Brother MFC-L3710W Compact Digital All-in-One PrinterBest with cloud printing: HP Neverstop 1202w Wireless Mono Laser PrinterBest portable: HP Tango Smart Wireless PrinterBest budget: HP DeskJet Plus 4155 Wireless All-in-One Printer How we picked the best copy machines I’m an experienced reviewer of tech and smart office gear....

Best overall: Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10 Best Bluetooth: AIAIAI TMA-2 Studio Wireless+Best for mixing music: Audio-Technica ATH-M70xBest lightweight: Sennheiser HD 25 Plus Best mid-priced: V-Moda Crossfade LP2 Best budget: Monoprice Premium Hi-Fi DJ Style Over-the-Ear Headphones How we selected the best DJ headphones I have been a performing DJ for more than 15 years and have covered DJ gear for DJ Tech Tools, Electronic Musician, Remix, Popular Science, and other outlets. I’ve personally used four of the six headphones on this list for public DJ sets, livestreams, or extensive reviews, and the remaining choices are based on thorough research, the feedback of fellow DJs, other expert reviews, and trusted user impressions....

Calcium is not just necessary for strong bones and teeth; it also supports heart health, nerve function, muscle contractions, and blood clotting. In addition, calcium helps to control high blood pressure and maintain a regular heartbeat. It is vital that you get enough calcium every day to promote these functions. The different kinds of calcium supplements all work in different ways. Some may be more effective for bone health while others will be more effective for heart health....

Best solid-state: Rupert Neve Designs RNHPBest tube: Monolith Liquid Platinum Best portable: AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt Best overall: Chord Mojo Best high-end: Manley Labs Absolute Best budget: Schiit Magni Best wireless: iFi GO Blu How we picked the best headphone amps There are plenty of headphone amplifiers available on the market. To narrow down our choices, we looked at a variety of factors: build quality, cost performance, additional features, and, of course, sound quality....

A good keyboard will reduce discomfort and make your workspace more ergonomic. More than that, the ideal input device should provide a satisfying experience under your fingers. But with several types, different ergonomic features, wired and wireless options, and a range of price points to consider, it can be hard to find the best board for your needs. We’ve narrowed down the top designs for a variety of uses, so you can find your ideal match....

Once the domain of the most expensive sets, noise cancellation has since come to the masses. To that end, you don’t have to spend hundreds to bathe your brain in beats. You can, instead, spend slightly under a single hundred! Huzzah! But even at that specific price point for that specific product there are choices, and we’re here to sift through them with you, bringing you the best noise-cancelling headphones under $100....

Best free: AudacityBest for beginners: AuphonicBest for Macs: GarageBandBest for recording: HindenburgBest for remote recording: Anchor How we selected the best podcast software After getting several hours of hands-on experience with a professional engineer, conducting interviews, and editing the audio under various studio and field recording conditions, we’re highlighting programs that are capable of producing pro-quality results. We chose these five apps based on their intuitive qualities, and their ability to render great sound while editing a recording you captured—even if you didn’t drop your whole paycheck on the best microphones, mixing headphones, and/or voice recorder....

Best overall rowing machine: NordicTrack – RW200 – RowerBest rowing-machine splurge: Concept2 Indoor Rowing MachineBest water rowing machine: Mr. Captain Water Rowing MachineBest foldable rowing machine: Schwinn Crewmaster Rower Best budget rowing machine: Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine What to consider when shopping for the best rowing machine When shopping for the best rowing machine to add to your home fitness equipment, there are a few things to consider....